TEAM SPAINCoach: Jordi Ribera
Spain
TEAM SPAIN
Team Info
In almost two decades Spain has belonged in the top of world class handball. First, it were Spanish clubs which dominated European handball, then the national team grew and grew. In 2005 Spain won their first major title, the trophy of the World Championship, which they again rose in 2013. After an overall of four silver medals at European Championships, the team of new head coach Jordi Ribera won gold in 2018. First they dethroned defending EURO champions Germany by eliminating them from the final at Zagreb, followed by the victories against France in the semi and Sweden in the final. Winning the final at Zagreb 29:23 after a 12:14 halftime deficit provided Spain with a straight ticket to the 2019 World Championship.
After missing the Olympic Games in Rio, the team is in transition, young aces such as Alex and Dani Dujshebaev or Ferran Sole take over the responsibility in the Spanish squad.
Competition records:
World Championship match results: 1978: 10, 1982: 8, 1986: 5, 1990: 5, 1993: 5, 1995: 11, 1997: 7, 1999: 4, 2001: 5, 2003: 4, 2005: GOLD, 2007: 7, 2009: 13, 2011: BRONZE, 2013: GOLD, 2015: 4, 2017: 5
Olympic Games match results: 1972: 15, 1980: 5, 1984: 8, 1988: 9, 1992: 5, 1996: BRONZE, 2000: BRONZE, 2004: 7, 2008: BRONZE, 2012: 7
European Championship match results: 1994: 5, 1996: SILVER, 1998: SILVER, 2000: BRONZE, 2002: 7, 2004: 10, 2006: SILVER, 2008: 6, 2012: 4, 2014: BRONZE, 2016: SILVER, 2018: GOLD
Qualification for Denmark/Germany 2019: European Champions